http://www.news10.com/story/25.....bligations-in-letterTown supervisor accuses REMS of not meeting obligations in letter
Posted: Apr 01, 2014 9:27 PM EDT
By Marty Kasper - email
ROTTERDAM, N.Y. – Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services is being accused of not fulfilling the requirements of their contract with the Town of Rotterdam.
REMS won the EMS contract for the town in December 2013. But according to a three-page letter written by Town Supervisor Harry Buffardi, REMS is not meeting required obligations.
The letter accuses REMS of delaying signing a contract with the town, and they are not meeting the requirements they agreed to when they won the contract.
Dean Romano is the REMS spokesman.
"If there were concerns, I would have hoped that someone would have picked up the phone to call me," he said. "We want to be open and transparent in every single way, and I would hope that the town would want to be, too."
Romano admitted there has been a delay in signing the contract.
Buffardi said in the letter that without a written contract "the town may revoke or rescind" their offer. But Romano said the contract has not been signed because of a disagreement over the language in the contract that was changed by the town.
"The town sent us back a contract completely different," Romano said. "With language that is questionable."
Romano said REMS is preparing to submit a counter contract, and Buffardi was aware of the new contract.
"We are working on a revision of a contract," Romano said. "We have been in contact with the town about that."
Included in the letter, Buffardi said the town doesn't have documentation that REMS has proper certified staff, doesn't routinely file records of their calls, and Buffardi said the town doesn't know if REMS is fully insured stating, "I can't turn a blind eye to Rotterdam EMS."
Romano counters Buffardi's claims. He said REMS is fully insured and has provided the town with certificates of their insurance through the RFP process.
He also said REMS met all the requirements of the town when it was awarded the contract.
"Every single patient requirement is there," he said. "Every single medication that we're required to carry is there. All the equipment that is necessary – we have it all."
Romano said REMS is in the process of ensuring they meet staffing requirements and monitor their response times. Buffardi, however, points to the lack of that information as "cutting corners."
Romano said he's disappointed that REMS has a fractured relationship with the town government.
REMS has been asked to attend the April 23 meeting to address the issues outlined in Buffardi's letter. Romano said REMS will be there and will show they are meeting every point and situation that has been required of them.
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